FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Chesterfield, Mo.) - The third annual "Help Santa Find the Perfect Real Christmas Tree" national contest, sponsored by the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) and the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, produced winners in four different age categories.
To participate in the contest, children (ages 6 to 18) took a picture of their family with their fresh, Real Christmas Tree during the 2006 holiday season, wrote a story about why the tree was special or "perfect" to them, and sent it to NCTA. NCTA and its sponsors offered grand prizes that included $5,000 scholarships or trips for four to Orlando, Fla.
NCTA sponsors the contest as part of a broader campaign to make sure that Christmas traditions and values remain strong. The multi-year campaign's goal is to reach Americans with the underlying message, "Nothing Says Christmas More Than a Real Tree."
The winner in Category I (ages 6 to 9) is Kelly Cabaniss of Rock Hill, S.C. In her essay, Kelly describes her family's annual trip to RRR Tree Farm in Boone, N.c., to select their Christmas Tree and says it's a special time because the whole family is together. She wrote, "My Dad works a lot and my sister is usually out with her friends. This is a time for my family to be together and I hope we will continue doing it forever." It's that exact sentiment, the family bonds created by a tradition of selecting a Christmas Tree together each year, that bring meaning to the essay contest.
The winner in Category II (ages 10 to 12) is Claire Shappie of Murrieta, Calif. In her essay, Claire described her family's annual hunt for the perfect tree at Wickerd Farms in Menifee. This past year was different however. Claire wanted to sponsor two little girls from the "Giving Tree" program her school was sponsoring. In order to do this, she gave up a fresh tree in order to afford the sponsorship. But the Friday before Christmas, she came home to find a fresh Christmas Tree. Claire wrote, "My Dad brought the tree in and instantly my house smelled like Christmas. It was the best Christmas Tree I ever had."
The winner in Category III (ages 13 to 15) is Hillary Jackson of Essex Junction, Vt., who got her tree at Gert Urie Christmas Tree Farm in Williston. Hillary also echoed the sentiment that the family tradition of selecting a special Christmas Tree is invaluable. "I love how time freezes for just a little while so we can enjoy this time together," wrote Hillary. "Everyone in my family is incredibly busy. It is hard to spend time together. I take comfort in knowing that cutting our tree and decorating it will always be a guaranteed time we will always share."
The winner in Category IV (ages 16 to 18) is Lisa Reiter of Elgin, Minn. In her essay, titled "The Miracle Tree," Lisa explained how the tree helped her grandmother, who is afflicted with Alzheimer's, remember Christmas. "When my Grandma walked into the house that day, she smiled and said, 'It smells just like Christmas.' She looked at me with the biggest smile I've ever seen. For just a few hours, she was the smiling, happy Grandma I remember." Now that's a great story. Lisa and her family got their tree at the Rochester Morning Lions Club tree lot.
Visit www.realchristmastrees.org for complete contest information and to read the winning essays along with submitted photos.
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National Christmas Tree Association
16020 Swingley Ridge Rd
Suite 300
Chesterfield, MO 63017
636/449-5071
Fax: 636/449-5051
www.RealChristmasTrees.org
